Nemesia plant ‘Nemhawit’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Nemesia  plant, substantially as herein illustrated and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by its semi-trailing and compact habit, white flowers, a creamy palate, very early flowering and absolutely no seed set.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Nemesia hybrid.

Varietal denomination: ‘Nemhawit’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant known botanically as Nemesia hybrid and that will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘Nemhawit’.

The new Nemesia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The new Nemesia cultivar is characterized by a semi-trailing and compact habit, white flowers, a creamy palate, very early flowering and absolutely no seed set.

The new Nemesia originated from a cross-pollination in 1999 of an unpatented Nemesia plant, named ‘A233-1,’ as the female, or seed, parent with an unpatented Nemesia plant named ‘A71-2,’ as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar ‘Nemhawit’ was discovered and selected as a plant within the progeny from this cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, in 2000.

As a result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 2000 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a two year period. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations. The new variety is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Nemesia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The plant illustrated in the photographic drawing is a 15 week old plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristic of this new Verbena. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 14 weeks old plants blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse and grown in a 10.5 cm container.

Color readings were taken in the greenhouse under ambient light. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

TABLE 1 Differences between the new cultivar ‘Nemhawit,’ its parents and a similar cultivar ‘Nemhawit’ ‘A233-1’ ‘A71-2’ ‘Aromatica White’ Seed set No Plentiful No Plentiful Flower size Medium Medium Small Medium Flower color White White Pink White Palate color Creamy Yellow White White

The commercial name of the most resembling variety is ‘Aromatica White.’ This variety is not known to be patented.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

-   The plant:     -   -   Classification.—Botanical: Nemesia. Species: Hybrid.         -   Parentage.—Female parent: An inbred seedling named ‘A233-1’             bred in 1998. Pollen parent: An inbred seedling named             ‘A71-2’ bred in 1998.         -   Growth habit.—Semi-trailing and compact.         -   Plant height.—26-32 cm.         -   Spreading area of plant.—22-42 cm.         -   Strength.—Resistant to hot and cool weather.         -   Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching             at every node.         -   Number of branches per plant.—25-45.         -   Blooming period.—From April until November.         -   Propagation.—Vegetative stem cuttings.         -   Sexuality.—Hermaphrodite.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 days at             temperatures of 21 degrees centigrade is needed to produce             rooted cuttings.         -   Root system.—Numerous and fine, the color is N155A. -   The stem:     -   -   Diameter.—3-4 mm.         -   Length.—8-16 cm.         -   Shape.—Quadrilateral with ridges.         -   Anthocyanin pigmentation.—Absent.         -   Color of the stem.—137B.         -   Length of internode.—15-25 mm, depending on the light where             the plant is propagated.         -   Pubescence.—Glabrous.         -   Length lateral branches.—8-16 cm. -   The foliage:     -   -   Phyllotaxis.—Opposite.         -   Shape of blade.—Broadly ovate.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Texture.—Upper side: Glabrous. Lower side: Glabrous.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Leaf margin.—Crenate.         -   Leaf base.—Truncate.         -   Leaf apex.—Apiculate.         -   Length.—20-42 mm.         -   Width.—15-30 mm.         -   Depth of incision.—1-2 mm.         -   Color.—Upper side: 135B. Lower side: 138B.         -   Petiole length.—1-2 mm.         -   Petiole surface structure.—Glabrous.         -   Petiole diameter.—2-3 mm.         -   Petiole coloration.—Upper side: 135B. Lower side: 138B. -   The bud:     -   -   Peduncle length.—15-30 mm.         -   Peduncle diameter.—2-3 mm.         -   Peduncle color.—141B.         -   Peduncle surface.—Glabrous.         -   Pedicel length.—4-8 mm.         -   Pedicel diameter.—Less than 1 mm.         -   Pedicel color.—137B.         -   Pedicel surface.—Glabrous.         -   Stipule length.—1-2 mm.         -   Stipule width.—1-2 mm.         -   Stipule shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Stipule color.—Upper side: 141C. Lower side: 141C.         -   Bud size.—Diameter: 4 mm. Length: 3-5 mm.         -   Bud shape.—Globular.         -   Bud color.—N155B.         -   Bud surface.—Glabrous.         -   Sepals.—Color (Upper side): 137B. Color (Lower side): 137B.             Form: Upright. Surface: Glabrous. Number: 5, fused. Length:             1-2 mm. Width: Less than 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Apiculate. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. -   The flower:     -   -   Type of inflorescence.—Axillary raceme.         -   Flower shape.—Personate.         -   Palate color.—2C in the center and 2D to the right and left             sides of the center.         -   Nectary (located on underside of palate).—4 mm in width and             4 mm in length.         -   Nectary color.—159D.         -   Throat color (upper surface).—158C.         -   Throat color (lower surface).—157C.         -   Surface of upper lip.—Upper side: Glabrous. Lower side:             Glabrous.         -   Surface of lower lip.—Upper side: Glabrous. Lower side:             Glabrous.         -   Lip margin (lower lip).—Entire.         -   Lip margin (upper lip).—Entire.         -   Number of lips.—2.         -   Lobes.—Upper lip: 4. Lower lip: 1.         -   Lobes on upper lip fused or unfused.—Fused.         -   Lip apex (upper lip).—Each lobe has a rounded apex.         -   Lip base (upper lip).—Fused.         -   Lip apex (lower lip).—Obtuse.         -   Lip base (lower lip).—Fused.         -   Upper lip color.—Upper side: N155D. Lower side: N155D.         -   Lower lip color.—Upper side: N155D. Lower side: N155D.         -   Flower dimensions.—1.3 cm in depth, 1.9 cm in length and 2.1             cm in width at widest part.         -   Lower lip dimensions.—1.1 cm in length and 1.4 cm in width.         -   Upper lip dimensions.—1.2 cm in length and 2.1 cm in width.         -   Lobe dimensions (upper lip).—1.1 cm in length and 5 mm in             width.         -   Flower spur dimensions.—1.4 cm in length and 1-2 mm in             diameter.         -   Spur color.—158A.         -   Calyx dimensions.—4 mm in length and 5 mm in width.         -   Calyx color.—135A.         -   No. of flowers per inflorescence.—55-80.         -   Fragrance.—A very light perfume fragrance occurs.         -   Bloom time of one inflorescence.—New florets continue to             open in one inflorescence over a period of 38 days.         -   Lastingness of one flower.—3-7 days. -   The reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamens quantity: 4. Anther shape: Ovoid. Anther             length: 0.3 mm. Anther width: 0.2 mm. Anther color: 154D.             Pollen amount: Scarce pollen. Pollen color: 154D.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistils quantity: 1. Pistil length: 3-5 mm.             Stigma color: 144C. Style length: 3-5 mm. Style color: 144D.             Ovary color: 144C. Ovary position: Superior. Ovary shape:             Oval. Ovary dimensions: 0.3 mm in width and 0.4 mm in             length. -   Seeds: No seed set is observed. No fruits are developed. -   Disease and pest susceptibility or resistance: There are no disease     problems known to the inventor other than what effects typical     Nemesia. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant named ‘Nemhawit,’ as substantially illustrated and described herein. 